Rosa+Swope

Homemaker Rosa May Parrish Swope, age 24, of Canton, Illinois, died on July 5, 1901 of complications of a botched abortion. Both her husband, George W., who was a coal miner, and Dr. F.D. Smith of Astoria, Illinois, were arrested.

Smith denied having performed the abortion, saying that he'd been summoned in early July to attend to Mrs. Swope, and had found her "suffering greatly and in an abortive condition, though whether from drugs or otherwise is not known." Smith said that Dr. D. W. Bottorf had performed the abortion in question.

Rosa and George had two children, ages 1 and 2.

Sources: "A Husband and Doctor", //The Quincy Daily Journal//, August 19, 1901; death records



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